Treatment of materials to retard fading



Ehlltl ire-resale UN 1 TE PATENT OFFICE EDGAR W. GEISLER, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNQR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

T0 R. H. COMEY BROOKLYN COMPANY, INC, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- 'IION OF NEW YORK TREATMENT 01E MATERIALS TO RETARD FADING 1\To Drawing. Application filed November This invention relates to a process of treating materials to retard or largely prevent fading or discoloration of the same. It has particular reference to the treatment of fibrous material either natural or synthetic, and it has been found of special utility in the treatment of straw or straw braids, hemps or other vegetable fibers. It may, of course, be used to treat article-s such as hats made of straw, straw braids or the like The object is to retard or prevent fading of the straw, straw braid, or other fibrous material, and retain it in a white condition or, if it is colored, to prevent or retard the fading of the colors. 4

Fading is a-source of serious loss and detriment,especially in the case of white, or near white, straw or other vegetable fiber, particularly when used in hats, and to obviate this a great deal of study and effort has been expended, but no procedure which is entirely practical or successful has been found.

My present invention provides a method which has proved both practical and adaptable. In general, my invention involves the treatment of the straw, straw braid, or other fibrous material with a solution of a thiosulphate, particularly sodium thiosulphate Na S O so as to cause the treated material to absorb or become more or less saturated with the thiosulphate solution, after which the material is dried.

subject the same to the process of this invention. In some cases it may be found advantageous to combine the treatment according to the present invention with the final stage in the bleaching process.

Referring to the Invention more n detail,

16, 1926. Serial No. 148,770.

I have found that a 5% solution of sodium thiosulphate will prove'satisfactory. The solvent used is preferably water, although te Search Real any other suitable solvent may be employed.

The amount of thiosulphate used may be varied considerably and more or less than that stated maybe found preferable in some cases. The temperature of the thiosulphate bath may vary but preferably is maintained at about hand temperature. As before stated, the straw, straw braids, hats or other materials to be treated are. more or less saturated or impregnated with the thiosulphate solution and this is preferably done by immer-sing the material in the warm thiosulphate bath a suflicien't'length of time to per- 'mit absorption of the thiosulphate into the pores of the material. In some cases, merely wetting the fibrous material or dipping it in the solution may prove sufficient. After the treatment with the thiosulphate solution, the fibrous material is of course dried and this may be done in any suitable manner.

In one aspect'my invention includes as an article of commerce the straw, straw braid .etc. having incorporated therein a small quantity of the thiosulphate.

Instead of sodium thiosulphate, I may employ otherthiosulphates such as the potassium salt. Generally, the. sodium salt will be found preferable by reason of cheapness.'

I have found that bleached straw, straw braids, straw hats and other vegetable fibers become much more resistant to sunlight and fade or-lose their white appearance much more slowly if subjected to the process of the present invention. \Vhile. fading and discoloration can not be entirely obviated, my invention serves to retard such action to a very large extent.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of retarding the fading of vegetable fibrous material which consists in treating the material with a solution of a thiosulphate.

2. A method of retarding the fading of vegetable fibrous material which consists in treating the material with a solution of j an alkali metal thiosulphate.

3. A method of retarding the fading of vegetable fibrous material which consists in treating the material With a solution of sodium thiosulphate.

4. A method of retarding the fading or discoloration of vegetable fibrous material which consists in subjecting the material to in a solution of an alkali metal thiosulphate to cause the solution to be absorbed by the fibrous material and then drying the material.

5. A method of retarding the fading or discoloration of vegetable fibrous material which consists in subjecting the material to a solution of sodium thiosulphate to cause the solution to be absorbed by the fibrous material and then drying the material. 20 6. A method of retarding fading of vegetable fibrous material, which consists in immersing the material in a solution of a thio sulphate and then drying the same.

7 A method of retarding fading of vegetable fibrous material, which consists in immersing the material in a solution of sodium thiosulphate and then drying the same.

8. A method of retarding the fading of straw braid after the same has been bleached, 3.0 which consists in subjecting the bleached material to a solution of a thiosulphate and then drying the same.

9. A method of retarding the fading of straw braid after the same has been bleached, 35 which consists in subjecting the bleached material to a solution of an alkali metal thiosulphate and then drying the same.

10. A method of retarding the fading of straw braid after the same has been bleached, which consists in subjecting the bleached material to a solution of sodium thiosulphate and then drying the same.

11. As anarticle of manufacture, vegetable fibrous material having a small quan- 45 tity of a soluble thiosulphate incorporated therein to retard fading of the same. i

12. As an article of manufacture, straw having a small quantity of a soluble thiosulphate incorporated therein to retard fading of the same.

13. As an article of manufacture, straw braid having a small quantity of sodium thiosulphate incorporated therein to retard V fading of the same.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

EDGAR W. GEISLER. 

